Mel and Mal's Homemade Pasta

Italian food became a passion for me in my thirties and still is one of my favourite foods.

If you fancy making your own homemade pasta (kids love to do it!) it couldn't be simpler, but to make the process totally hassle-free, invest in the Marcato Pasta Maker (see our Cookshop for more details). Perfect results every time

Serves : 4 Prep/Cooking Time : 1hr 30mins

Tip : You can make your pasta up to 3 days in advance - just pop it into a Lock and Lock container or similar airtight container and pop it in the fridge

Make the Pasta dough

Sift the flour and salt directly onto a work top and make a well in the centre.

Lightly beat the egg yolks with either the tomato or basil puree, if using, in a bowl.

Pour into the well and with your fingers, gradually draw the flour into the egg mixture, mixing until you end up with stiff dough. If the dough is too dry add a few teaspoons of water.

Knead away

Lightly sprinkle some of the flour onto a clean work surface and knead the dough vigorously for 10 minutes

Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to rest for 40 minutes

Use the Machine

Make several smaller balls from the dough and feed dough through the pasta machine twice through on the highest setting then twice through the next setting and continue till you have gone through the each setting twice

Finely either cut into the shapes you require or use the cutters of the pasta machine

Dry the Pasta

Toss the shapes into the air to "air-dry or use a TACAPASTA Collapsible Pasta Drying Stand available in our Cookshop if you want to be really professional